Personal disposal system

ABSTRACT

A thin, flat, adhesive-lined disposal system comprised of two layers of liquid resistant material, preferably bio-degradable materials, threaded together securely along the edges and sealed horizontally to form a pocket ( 34 ) by which to encapsulate attached soiled materials for safe and easy disposal. Pulling pull-tabs  1  ( 26 ) and  2  ( 30 ) activates the disposal system which releases an air fragrance ( 36 ) to mask odors and cause soiled materials to which the personal disposal system is attached to contract and roll into a ball to be engulfed in the inverted pocket ( 34 ) of the disposal system ( 32 ). Afterwhich, pull-tabs  1  ( 26 ) and  2  ( 30 ) are tied together into a secure knot for discarding.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This invention relates to the disposal of personal hygienearticles such as sanitary napkins, pantyliners, etc., specifically tothe safe securing and proper disposal of such items.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Women all over the world are forced to handle the complex issuessurrounding the proper and safe disposal of feminine hygiene articlesafter use. Many, at one time or another have been in the unenviableposition of having to remove a soiled article and not being afforded theluxury of having a safe and secure mechanism with which to wrap anddispose of the article. This can be a dilemma of immense ethicalproportions.

[0006] Many times they find that the only alternative is to dispose ofthe article in the toilet bowl currently being used or either wrap thearticle in massive amounts of tissue paper and discard in the nearesttrash can. Neither option is particularly attractive. If they dispose ofthe article in the toilet bowl, a potential dilemma has been created forthe homeowner or merchant whose facilities are being used. The thickpadding of the soiled article oftentimes will clog the plumbing drainand cause expensive repairs to be necessary. If the soiled article isdiscarded in the wastebasket, the chance that the captured waste mightleak through and contaminate other articles in the waste system ishighly likely. Also the odor or fumes from the soiled item many timeswill seep through and infiltrate the air causing bad odors to linger incontained areas. Either form of disposal is not very appealing.

[0007] Heretofore the idea of a personal, self-contained disposal systemattached to a woman's pad; pantyliner or feminine hygiene article hasnot been explored to my knowledge. Many women simply opt for the use oftissue paper provided as a means to wrap and secure the soiled articleand discard in the nearest wastebasket or toilet. This has proven to beunacceptable in our fast paced society where communicable diseases areprevalent. This invention simply addresses the convenient disposal ofthe soiled item while addressing the safety factor of handling thesoiled item by the user and disposal personnel. This invention alsoaddresses the handling of the odors caused by the soiled items in acontained space until it can be safely removed.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0008] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:

[0009] (a) encourages good personal hygiene practices in the disposal ofsoil items

[0010] (b) provides a mechanism to easily contain soiled materials andlessen public exposure to such

[0011] (c) eliminates the need to excessively handle the soiled item bythe user or disposal personnel

[0012] (d) provides a fragrance to mask or help eliminate odors causedby soiled items remaining in a confined space

[0013] (e) encourages proper disposal of soiled items

[0014] (f) eliminates the need of excessive amounts of wrapping suppliesi.e. tissue paper, paper towels or none at all

[0015] (g) provides a mechanism in which soiled items are self-containedin small plastic wrapper/bag to lessen the release of unwanted odors orexposure of unsightly deposits

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective of the outer (exposed) side of thepersonal disposal system (32) with adhesive cover (22) in place.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective of the side of the personal disposalsystem (32) with pad (20) and adhesive cover (22).

[0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective of the exploded outer (exposed) side withidentification of all the parts of the personal disposal system (32)without adhesive cover (22).

[0019]FIG. 4 is a perspective of the outer (exposed) side from adifferent angle (vertical view) without adhesive strips (24)and cover(22).

[0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective of the system as pull-tabs one (26) andtwo (30) are engaged for the first time (pulled); the personal disposalsystem pocket (34) is opened and fragrance (36) released using pull-tabtwo (30) and the pad/liner (20) is being contracted using pull-tab one(26).

[0021]FIG. 6 is a perspective of the personal disposal system pocket(34) being pulled completely over the soiled pad (20) to encapsulate allthe soiled padding.

[0022]FIG. 7 is a perspective of the personal disposal system (32) beingsecured by pull tab one (26) and two (30) being tied securely.

[0023]FIG. 8 is a perspective of the personal disposal system (32) afterbeing safely tied and secured.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

[0024]20 pad/liner

[0025]22 adhesive cover

[0026]24 adhesive strip

[0027]26 pull-tab 1

[0028]28 perforation

[0029]30 pull-tab 2

[0030]32 disposal system

[0031]34 disposal pocket

[0032]36 fragrance

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Typical embodiments of the personal disposal system areillustrated in FIG. 1 (outer view) and FIG. 2 (side view). The disposalsystem can be shaped according to the dimensions of the article forwhich it will serve as the disposal component. The disposal system isattached to the article (20), FIG. 1, via a cohesive compound. FIG. 1provides insight into the general shape of the disposal system. Lookingat the flat outer (exposed view) of the disposal system (32), noticepull-tabs 1 (26) and 2 (30), FIG. 3, are only slightly exposed as theyare secured in an internal indentation space within the disposal system.An adhesive strip (24), FIG. 3, is attached to the outer side of thedisposal system to encourage adhesion to the fabric in which the articleis to be applied securely. The adhesive cover (22), FIGS. 1 & 2, isprovided to give protection to the adhesive strips until time for thearticles use.

[0034] The personal disposal system (32) along the outer edge isthreaded with material attached to pull-tab 1 (26) as shown in FIGS. 3and 4. The disposal pocket (34) is attached to pull-tab 2 (30) with aperforated line (28) along the mouth of the pocket, FIG. 3. This systemcan be altered and utilized with numerous disposable items currently onthe market today. This is but one example of this personal disposalsystem's potential use.

[0035] The manner of using the personal disposal system (32) is a verysimple one. Namely, one would pull pull-tab 1 (26), FIG. 4, straight upand away from the fabric or backing in which it is attached. As pull-tab1 (26) is extended, the sides and ends of the disposal system (32), FIG.5, contracts and the soiled article rolls inward into a ball. Next,while still holding pull-tab 1 (26), pull-tab 2 (30) is pulled, FIG. 5;this causes the pocket perforation (28) to be pulled away from the baseof the disposal system (32) and the disposable pocket mouth is opened.An air fragrance (36) is released from the pocket indentation to mask oreliminate odors associated with the soiled article. Pull-tab 2 (30) isthen pulled over the contracted soiled article to meet pull-tab 1causing the disposable pocket to invert and the soiled article to beengulfed by the inverted pocket, FIG. 6. Pull-tab 1 (26) and pull-tab 2(30) are then pulled together, FIG. 7 and tied securely as in FIG. 8.The personal disposal system (32) is secured and discarded in thenearest wastebasket for proper disposal.

[0036] Accordingly, the reader will see that the personal disposalsystem can be used easily and conveniently with little or no hesitationby women of all ages. But I think it will be most appreciated andhelpful to young girls who are beginning their adventure into womanhood.Why, because at this young age when menstruation first arrives, younggirls are embarrassed about this phenomenon of their body. This is thetime when personal hygiene and responsibility to others must be taughtand encouraged. This system provides a mechanism to encouragecleanliness, good hygiene practices and personal accountability forproper disposal.

[0037] While my above description contains many specifics, these shouldnot be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, butrather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof Manyother variations are possible. For example the disposal of babydisposable diapers, disposable undergarments, and other disposableitems. Furthermore, the personal disposal system has the additionaladvantages in that

[0038] it permits the production of liquid resistant, preferablybio-degradable, disposal systems in a variation of colors, thereby beingmore attractive to those who are young at heart

[0039] it permits no direct handling of the soiled article

[0040] it allows the soiled article to be self-contained for easydisposal

[0041] it releases a gentle fragrance in the area to help with odors

[0042] it provides a single contained unit to be safely removed fromwaste receptacles with no possible exposure or danger to cleaning orwaste management personnel

[0043] it encourages good personal hygiene practices

[0044] Although the description above contains many specificities, theseshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but asmerely providing illustrations of the presently preferred embodiments ofthis invention. For example, the personal disposal system can certainlyhave other shapes, to more appropriately encapsulate the articles forwhich it will be used to dispose of.

[0045] Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by theappended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examplesgiven.

What I claim as my invention is a personal disposal system comprising:1. two sheets of liquid resistant material, preferably biodegradablematerials having sufficient size as to accommodate use for encapsulationof soiled materials,
 1. positioning said sheets together so that theedge portion of a sheet overlaps an adjacent edge portion of anothersheet,
 2. passing a material repeatedly through and along the edges ofthe overlapping portions in sequentially opposite directions, 3.attaching a grasping mechanism at the ends of the said material passingthrough the overlapping portions to gather said soiled materials into acircular position,
 4. sealing with an adhesive material said sheetstogether at the midsection creating a pocket when the top, outer mostsheet is split horizontally directly beneath said grasping mechanism, 5.the said split creates a mouth of the pocket which when pulled with asecond grasping mechanism inverts the pocket, a fragrance is releasedand the attached said soiled materials are encapsulated between theinner linings of the sheets, and
 6. said two grasping mechanisms are nowtied securely together for a disposable unit.